Update: A National Guard Band's Relief Effort

ai698 · Post by **ai698** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:02 am

Our National Guard Band is waiting to get a call to assist with the relief effort for Hurricane Katrina. We've been on call for more than a week and now it looks like we're going to do something. Our Govenor has opened our borders to welcome any refugees (like many other states), and we're going to help out were we can. We are not going to the gulf coast, but are going to Albuquerque Convention Center to hopefully provide some comfort for people who will be almost 1200 miles away from their homes.

Once everything settles down, I will recommend that our brass quintet and sax quartet performs for these people because our band's motto is "Service Through Music". BTW, I've loaded and unloaded my truck three times with my stuff ready to go. I'm three hours away from Albuquerque, and we're suppose to get to our armory within two to three hours after we get the call. I feel bad for those in our band that has to drive four to five hours. We'll keep the light on for them.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 8:42 pm

We went up Saturday to play for Katrina refugees at the Colluseum in Robertsdale,Al. They hated us. I knew we should have learned some rap.
Two National Guardsmen came up to talk music and instruments with us,the nurses from upstate had a picture taken with us,the volunteers and even the guy boiling peanuts for everybody said they loved our sound but our guests acted like we weren't there with the exception of two older ladies who said they were "gettin' into it". I told John they had the exits blocked and were fixing to rush the stage and he agreed to cut it off after he finished laughing. I thought the tuba would make some of them feel at home but I was wrong again. I know these folks are traumatized by what happened to thier homes and families and it was my idea to entertain them but maybe they preferred to be left in peace.
That's okay,we had to try.
tubatooter1940

ai698 · Post by **ai698** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:30 pm

We've just been activated by the state and will be going to New Orleans next week for about three weeks. We're not bringing our instruments, just M16's.

What mouthpiece should I use for a M16 and should I get a laquered or silver plated one?

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:50 pm

ai698 wrote:What mouthpiece should I use for a M16 and should I get a laquered or silver plated one?

On a lighter note, you can always aim it at a sharp oboe and see if the pitch comes back down...

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:16 am

ai698 wrote:What mouthpiece should I use for a M16 and should I get a laquered or silver plated one?

I would think one of those nice bullet-resistant Kellybergs would work well; as far as lacquer vs. silver, I've heard good "reports" on both ...

ai698 · Post by **ai698** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 6:07 pm

The on again, off again activation is off again. We're back on standby. I'm not waiting, I'm unpacking. I was running out of underwear.